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SERMON: GENESIS – ABRAHAM (Genesis 15) Pastor Augie Iadicicco October 7, 2018 God continues to seek new beginnings in a world filled with old sin. He makes a promise to Abraham that from him He would bring forth a new nation that will be a beacon of righteousness in a world darkened by sin. He also shows us how righteousness is ultimately obtained – through faith.

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” – Genesis 15:1

God Promises ...

1. ______________________ (“I am your shield”)

2. ___________________________ (“your very great reward”) My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:19

God Gives ... Genesis 15:4-5

1. ____________________ (“Look up at the sky and count the stars”)

2. ________________________ to Trust! (“your own flesh and blood will be your heir”)

Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness. – Genesis 15:6

What God Wants: Our _______________ Psalm 50:9-12

What God Gives: His _________________________________ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. – Romans 3:21-22

We ________________. God _______________! “With the exception of faith, we should direct all our works to our neighbor; for God requires us to do no other work for Him except to believe through Christ.” – Martin Luther

Questions for individual or group reflection: How do you think Abram felt when God called him to move from his comfort

zone? (Genesis 12:1) Did Abram always demonstrate faith in God? (Genesis 12:13) How did God protect Abram while he was rescuing his nephew Lot? What does God mean when He tells Abram that he is his shield and very great

reward? (Genesis 15:1) Did this comfort from God cause Abram to stop worrying? When Abram doubted, how did God restore his trust? (Genesis 15:2-5) Why does God refer to the stars in the sky and grains of sand? How hard to you think it was for Abram to believe God’s promise of a son

physically born to him? What promises has God made to you? How has He provided for you and protected you? What information has God shown you to remind you of this? How is God inviting you to trust Him today?

Taking it home / Memory Verse:

“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

– Genesis 15:6

GENESIS 15:1

After this, the word of the LORD came to

Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I

am your shield, your very great reward.”

GENESIS 15:1

After this, the word of the LORD came to

Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I

am your shield, your very great reward.”

GENESIS 12:2

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will

bless you; I will make your name great, and you

will be a blessing.”

GENESIS 12:2

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will

bless you; I will make your name great, and you

will be a blessing.”

GENESIS 15:1

After this, the word of the LORD came to

Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I

am your shield, your very great reward.”

God Promises…

1. PROTECTION (“I am your shield”)

God Promises…

1. PROTECTION

God Promises…

1. PROTECTION (“I am your shield”)

2. PROVISION (your very great reward”)

PHILIPPIANS 4:19

My God will meet all your needs according to

the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

GENESIS 15:2-3

2 But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can

You give me since I remain childless and the

one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of

Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have

given me no children; so a servant in my

household will be my heir.”

GENESIS 15:4-5

4 Then the word of the LORD came to him:

“This man will not be your heir, but a son who is

your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” 5 He

took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky

and count the stars – if indeed you can count

them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your

offspring be.”

God Gives…

1. INFORMATION (“Look up at the sky

and count the starts”)

God Gives…

1. INFORMATION (“Look up at the sky

and count the starts”)

2. INVITATION to Trust! (“your own flesh

and blood will be your heir”)

GENESIS 15:6

Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it

to him as righteousness.

PSALM 50:9-12

9 I have no need of a bull from your stall or of

goats from your pens, 10 for every animal of the

forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand

hills. 11 I know every bird in the mountains, and

the insects in the fields are Mine. 12 If I were

hungry I would not tell you, for the world is

Mine, and all that is in it.

What God Wants: our TRUST

What God Gives: His RIGHTEOUSNESS

ROMANS 3:21-22

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness

of God has been made known, to which the

Law and the Prophets testify.22 This righteousness is given through faith

in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

We TRUST. God GIVES!

EPHESIANS 2:8-10

8 For it is by grace you have been

saved, through faith—and this is not from

yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by

works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are

God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do

good works, which God prepared in advance

for us to do.

– Martin Luther

“With the exception of faith, we should

direct all our works to our neighbor; for God

requires us to do no other work for Him

except to believe through Christ.”